Nancy Kunoth Petyarre

Nancy Kunoth Petyarre is a respected Anmatyerre artist born around 1938 at Soakage Bore, near Utopia in the Northern Territory. She belongs to the Petyarre family, a prominent group of female artist whose contributions have significantly shaped the Utopian art movement. Nancy grew up learning the stories, laws, and customs of her Country, which have remained central to her artistic practice.

Her work is best known for its fine dotting and delicate patterns that often depict the Mountain Devil Lizard Dreaming, a story passed down through her family line. This Dreaming is a powerful women's story connected to ceremony, ancestral lore and country. 

Nancy began painting in the late 1980's, a time when the women of Utopia were transitioning from batik work to acrylic on canvas. Her style, while related to that of her sisters, is distinctive for its subtle rhythm and soft, sweeping designs. Her paintings are rich in cultural meaning and evoke the desert landscape and ancestral beings with a refined and meditative aesthetic. 

Her works have been exhibited in major galleries across Australia and internationally, and they are held in significant public and private collections. Nancy's commitment to cultural preservation through art continues to speak to the strength and knowledge of Anmatyerre women.